[1st POV]
"Are you going to keep chewing forever?" Makima asked as she came from behind me.
I was still in the same kneeling position, still chewing, even though it had been more than ten minutes since the battle ended.
She stopped in front of me, her hands behind her back. Her lips were pulled back slightly with a smile. I could tell she was pleased with the job I had done.
"I'm savouring it," I said with food in my mouth.
"Does it really taste that good?" she said.
I nod, "Wanna try?"
I stuck out my tongue, and on my red was the last piece of the Accident Devil, now turned into a paste-like substance.
I just wanted to freak her out, but I shouldn't have done that.
She matched my freak and scooped out a bit with her index finger before she put it in her mouth too. She sucked on her finger, her eyes locking on mine.
I was, for lack of a better word, completely dumbfounded.
"Not bad," she commented.
I quickly pulled my tongue inside and finally swallowed the last piece of the devil. I turned to the side, feeling weirdly disgusted but also excited at her actions.
What in the actual fuck was wrong with her?
"The rest of the devil hunters should arrive soon. I've informed them that the battle has ended," she said.
"What about the Mortality Devil?" I asked.
"I've already dealt with that," she said, her eyes closing in an eye smile.
"I see," I said and relaxed. I could finally feel the cool breeze on my skin. I've been in constant pain and hunger that I've not felt such small sensation in a long time.
It also reminded me that I was completely naked but I didn't really care.
"How long has it been?"
"Three days and two nights," she answered quick.
"That long huh," I said with a shake of my head. Reze must be confused why I had not been coming to the cafe.
"Three days is nothing in comparison to what you achieved. You did a great job Jin. You saved many human lives, both in the present and in the future," she said.
She took out a flip phone from her pocket. She did some things on the device before she came down to my level, kneeling beside me.
"What are you-" before I could even ask, she kissed me on my cheek.
If right beside my lips could be called a cheek that is. She was nearly full on kissing me, I could feel her soft lips and warm breath on my face.
A clinging sound came from the phone, twice. Then she pulled back and gave the phone to me. When I looked, it was the picture of her kissing me.
I stared at the image for a while.
All that fighting for a kiss huh.
Worth it.
A grin appeared on my face when I imagined showing this to Aki. The absolute heartbreak he would have. Perhaps this image would finally be enough to break his affection towards the toxic red flag.
"I hope that's okay. Its the only way I know how to show my gratitude," she said, "Don't think that's your only reward though. Unlike last time, you should receive a generous sum for killing the Accident Devil,"
"Sweet,"
We stayed together in the wasteland for a few more minutes before the rest of the people finally appeared. I was given clothes to wear and I asked to be sent home immediately.
I needed a good sleep after the battle.
A helicopter carried me to the nearest standing highway. Apparently, our battle had wreaked havoc on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. Most of the region within a 5 kilometre radius was completely levelled and destroyed.
That came as a complete surprise to me. I didn't know the battle was that destructive. From my perspective, I was inside the hurricane the whole damn time.
If the battle had taken place in Tokyo, it would have wiped out more than 10 per cent of the entire city. The destruction would destroy a ward like Shibuya five times over.
At this point, I might just be the strongest in this verse.
After the helicopter dropped me off, I was driven back to Tokyo with a car. Strangely enough, everyone was treating me with respect. They did so before, but now it felt like I was the CEO of the Public Safety Commission or something.
When we came back to Tokyo, I told the driver to stop at a supermarket because I wanted to buy some meat on the way home.
While I was shopping, I finally caught up with the situation. Turns out, everyone knew about the battle. Not just Japan, but the whole world was celebrating.
Fuck it, I was on the news. I thought this would be like my other big missions, where it was classified and the government made up some bullshit to hide my existence and role. But it seemed the battle this time was too big to be contained so Japan simply went with it.
The people in the supermarket were glued on the televisions on the wall. Celebrating and screaming in joy when the news was announced. It was all good news apparently, with less than five hundred casualties in the end.
I quickly bought what I needed and got back into the car.
I was dropped off in my apartment building and I made my way up the stairs. I gathered my thoughts while doing so. How do I feel about all this? To be completely honest, I liked it but at the same, kind of dread it too.
It was complicated.
When I opened the door to my apartment, a body slammed into me.
It came so fast and strong that I had no time to react at all. I fell over, dropping the groceries I was carrying with me. My poor eggs were all broken.
"Aki..?" I asked in surprise.
Aki hugged me on the ground for a few seconds before he dropped me without a care in the world. He quickly moved away, fixing his posture and coughing on his hands.
"Fucking bastard," he said. The contrast between the anger in his voice and previous hug was day and night.
"Why didn't you tell me anything? Dumbass you had me worried for days," he said.
I chuckled, "Sorry... it was an emergency,"
"You better be sorry," he said and sighed.
He eventually reached out his hand and pulled me up.
"Regardless, its good to see you again," he said.
"You have no idea," I said with a smile and a shake of my head.
"Its good to be alive and... home,"
..
..
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[3rd POV]
(News Channel)
[The studio]
"Good evening. We begin tonight with breaking developments from Saitama Prefecture. After three days and two nights of continuous devastation, the unprecedented battle between the Accident Devil and the Pig Devil has officially come to an end. Government officials have now confirmed that the Accident Devil has been completely eradicated.
This marks the first time in over half a century that a nation has successfully destroyed a national-threat devil in less than a week and within its own borders without receiving aid from other countries.
Let us take a look at the official statement released moments ago by the Public Safety Devil Hunters Headquarters."
[Cut to press conference footage – Chief Cabinet Secretary]
"As of 06:12 this morning, the entity known as the Accident Devil was neutralised in the Yuzawa section of the Kan-Etsu Expressway, E17, the same place it had first appeared. This outcome is thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Public Safety Commission, special class Devil Hunters and the intervention of the Pig Devil. Japan has avoided a catastrophe of immeasurable scale."
[Return to studio]
"The Accident Devil first manifested along the E17 expressway in the Yuzawa section early Friday morning. What began as a contained anomaly escalated rapidly as the devil divided into countless smaller units, forming a massive, mobile hurricane of accidents that eventually devastated 75 sqkm of land in under three days. Entire ridges, road systems and forested regions were levelled.
According to satellite imaging, the event carved a scar into northern Saitama visible from orbit.
Casualty numbers have been finalised at 437 dead, a figure government officials describe as tragic but miraculously contained, given the extreme level of destruction. Initial projections feared deaths could have reached into the tens of thousands had the battle moved into a major city.
Evacuation protocols activated by the Public Safety Commission proved decisive. High speed deterioration of terrain forced tens of thousands to flee, yet the majority reached safety due to early warnings issued by Makima, Special Divisions Director.
Authorities describe the terrain today as unrecognisable, with the affected region flattened into what geologists are calling a new artificial basin.
[Cut to field reporter standing in the razed zone]
"As you can see behind me, this was once a forest corridor lining the expressway. Now there is only barren earth. The three day conflict produced continuous shockwaves, collapsing mountainsides and tearing highways from their foundations."
[Return to studio]
International responses have been swift.
From Washington:
'Japan has achieved what no nation has managed in decades. The world stands in admiration.'
From the European Federation:
'This victory shifts the global balance of devil threat response. Japan has demonstrated unmatched resolve and efficiency in protecting its own.'
From the United Nations:
'The neutralisation of the Accident Devil represents a turning point in humanity's collective fight against catastrophic devils. This could be counted as the biggest victory of humanity since the tragic events of the Gun Devil.'
Officials also confirmed that several countries will offer financial aid and reconstruction support. Analysts suggest this marks the strongest international cooperation Japan has seen since the Global Devil Crisis.
But perhaps the most surprising point of discussion has been the role of the Pig Devil, whose existence was previously classified. Public Safety issued a controlled statement, acknowledging that the Pig Devil was directly responsible for weakening and ultimately consuming the Accident Devil from within, allowing the final containment.
The government declined further comment, stating that more information will be released after formal review.
For now, Japan breathes a cautious sigh of relief. One of the deadliest devils known to modern history has fallen, and the nation stands today not in mourning alone, but in victory.
This is Ayaka Morishima, NHK World News. We will continue to bring updates as recovery efforts unfold across Saitama Prefecture."
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[IMAGE]
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